Cleaning tool for blind slats



NOV. 7, 1939. A BREUER 2,178,849

CLEANING TOOL FOR BLIND SLATS Filed April 25, 1938 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,178,849

CLEANING TOOL FOR BLIND SLATS Adam A. Breucr, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Brener Electric Mtg. 00., of Illinois a ll, a corporation Application April :5, 1938, Serial No. mu;

2 Claims. (01. 15-158) vide a tubular attachment for suction cleaning hose whereby the slats, and tapes of Venetian blinds may be readily cleaned in situ.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool for attachment to a' suction cleaner hose whereby the tapes and slats of Venetian blinds may be readily cleaned and the dirt thereon withdrawn by suction without spreading the dirt as the tool is used.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool which may be attached to a suction hose whereby the slats and tapes of Venetian blinds may be readily cleaned without having to remove the slats or tapes.

Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates an attachment having a bifurcated end adapted to straddle a slat or tape of a Venetian blind, with the parts formed by the bifurcation provided with wiper elements so that as the tool is worked back and forth along the length of the slats and tapes, the dirt thereon will'be drawn through the suction cleaner to a waste receptacle such as 'a dust bag.

The above, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and the views thereof are as follows: t

- Figure 1 is a view showing isometric fragmental portions of a Venetian blind and showing the tool of the. present invention secured to a suction hose, with the tool applied to a slat of the blind and showing an operator manipulating the tool to clean the blind;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental view, partially in elevation and partially in axial section, showing the illustrated form of a tool or at tachment, and showing the tool applied over a blind slat;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the tool, taken substantially in the plane indicated by line III-HI of Figure 2, and with the slat removed;

Figure 4 is an isometricyiew of one of the wiper elements and its construction;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through the bifurcated end of the tool, showing the disposition of the wiping elements such as to provide for dirt accumulation alongside a wiping element, as the tool is in use.

The drawing will now be explained.

Referring to Figure 1, a fragmental portion of w a Venetian blind is illustrated, with portions of 5 the blind slats indicated at I and the tapes at 2.

An operator carrying a suction cleaning device on his person, suspended by a suitable strap, has the tool attachment A of the present invention secured to the end of the hose 3 for cleaning 19 the slats and tapes of the Venetian blind.

The tool or attachment A, as herein illustrated, is constructed as a cylinder open at both ends and is adapted at one end for connection to the hose 3 of a vacuumsuction cleaning device, as 15 by means of a coupling or collar 4.-

The other end of the tube is slotted or bifurcated sufliciently tobe passed over a blind slat, edgewise thereof, and to be worked back and forth along the length of the slats for wiping the dirt which has accumulated on the same. As

thus formed, the forward end of the tool has substantially semi-cylindrical -end portions 5 and 6. Diametrically opposed slots 1 and 8 are provided so that the tube may straddle a blind slat or tape. v

Secured to the inner surface of the end portion-or extension 5 is a substantially cylindrical clip '9 having an opening from end to end directed towards the center line or axis of the tool; '0

Similarly, another clip I0 is secured against the inner'surface of the extension or end portion 6 arranged in the same manner. Wiping elements are endwise insertable l removable from the clips 9 and Ill, '5

A wiping element is illustrated in Figure 4 and as there illustrated includes a cylindrical body ll formed in tubular shape with a slotfrom end to end, and a fabric l2 consisting of a lambs wool material folded back on itself, with its ends a clamped in the slot formed in the tubular member, to provide the formation illustrated in Figure 4. Tubular members H are adapted to slidably engages the clips 9 and Ill, and are insertable from the open end of the tube.

The outer ends of the bifurcated portions 5 and 6 of the body II is provided with a segmental portion l3 which constitutes an end closurefor the particular bifurcation or extension at the open end of the tube.

. Figure 2 illustrates the segmental portions I! as secured to the tubular bodies II by means of screws l4, and in this instance the adjacent ends of the tubular bodies are supplied with fillers it which are tapped to receive the screws. Any 3 and othermannerofattaehingthesegmentalpieces II to the extremities'of the'bodies ll may be utilized.

The wiping elements are so constructed that when two of them are in place, in the clips I and Ill, thenap of each will engage the opposed surfaces of a blind slat or tape with wiping action, asthetoolisimovedbackandforthalongsuch slat or tape.

Theclipssand llaresorelatedtotheslots'l and I, as to maintain the wiping elements in laterally spaced relation to the side surfaces of the bifurcated portions or extensions, thus providing dust pockets it along the wipingelements to therein accumulate dirt wiped'from a blind or tape by the wiping elements.

The segmental portions ll, of the wiping elements, close the open extremities of the bifurcated portions or extensions of the tool substantially in alignment with the margins of the slot,

so that the air inlet to the interior of the tool is limited to the slot formedin the tool.

When-the tool is attached to a suction hose, as illustrated in Figure 1, the bifurcated end applied over a slat or tape, and the tool moved along the slat or tape, the wiping :elementswlll wipe off the dirt into the lower of the dirt pockets along the sides of the elements, and the suction stream will carry the dirt through the hose into a dust bag, orother receptacle, as is usual. in suction cleaning apparatus.

The fact that the air inlet, for the suction stream, is limited substantially to the width of the slot assures the collection of aildirt that may be wiped oil! a slat or tape,-as there is no tendencyofthetooltopushanyofthedirtahead of the tool as it is being moved along a slat or tape, but otherwise to gather the dirt into the interior of the tube by reason of the suction of the apparatus.

Theiact that the cleaning elements are removable makes it possible to keep them free of accumulation of matter which otherwise might clog them and render them less effective for the cleaning operations. Furthermore, such removable cleaning elements makes replacement an easy ac'complishment. v

It will be observed that the device of the present invention is one which maybe readily applied to a. suction hose, for eiilciently cleaning Venetion blind slats or tapes.

The tool of the invention is applied to the blind tapesin thesame manner as described with reference to the slats and has been found ve'rysatisfactory for cleaning the tapes as well as the slats,

Figure 5 illustrates the-dirt pockets alongside the cleaning elements. Of course it is to be understood that dirt accumulates in the pockets adjacent the lower of the wiping elements.

ligln'eiilluetratesthemnnqofapplicatlm toaahhaslatbeingshowninseofor attachment to a suction hose.

'lhe term "Venetian blind is herein used generally and not by wayof limitation, as the in vention is capable of use in cleaning the opposite surfaces ofanysubstantiallyslatlikeortapeiihe ends .forstraddling a slat, elongated wiper elements within said end portions, said wiping elements being endwise insertable and removable, end pieces on the outer ends of said elements to close the tube ends adjacent the slot, and clips secured against the inner surfaces of said tube for securing said elements in place.

2. A tool adapted for connection to a suction hose for cleaning Venetian blind slats comprising a hollow cylindrical member open at'both ends and being slotted inwardly from one end forming two substantially semi-cylindrical portions for straddling a slat, opposed cleaning elements within said'semi-cylindrical portions extending longitudinally of the same, the outer ends of said elementscarrying end pieces adapted to close the outer ends of said semi-cylindrical portions to thereby limit the suction inlet to the slot, the

semi-cylindrical portions constituting pocket means along said elements for collecting dirt re. moved from a slat by said elementswhereby the dirt in said pocket means is subjected to the suction stream for removal of the dirt from said tool.

' ADAM A. BREUER. 

